WARRIOR OF THE MONTH: Redlands East Valley High grad now in Coast Guard

REDLANDS - These are the times that seem to be the most difficult for a military family.

The Pattersons would love to see their son Colin, who has been in the Coast Guard since 2010.

Colin managed to work in a brief family visit earlier in the year but he will be on duty during the holidays.

"He was coming back from Panama and was in San Diego for a day. We went down there to be with him," said Lance Patterson, Colin's father.

Colin, 23, graduated from Redlands East Valley High School in 2007. It wasn't until 2010 that he settled on the Coast Guard. He went through basic training at the USCG Training Center in Cape May in New Jersey and is now stationed in Astoria, Ore.

"I knew very little about the Coast Guard," said Lance Patterson. "Now I know a lot more."

The Coast Guard operates under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, and can be transferred to the Department of the Navy via a request by the president at any time or by Congress during times of war.